Police, community and calendar briefs for Nov. 27, 2012

Published: Monday, November 26, 2012 at 10:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, November 26, 2012 at 7:11 p.m.

POLICE BEAT

Stopped school bus hit Monday

A vehicle hit a school bus Monday morning while the bus was stopped to pick up students near Summerfield.

Christopher Dean Bellingham, 22, was driving a 1991 Jeep Cherokee north on U.S. Highway 441 near Southeast 160th Lane just before 8:30 a.m. Bellingham said he did not notice the bus, which was stopped and had the flashing lights activated, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.

Bellingham said he tried to veer away from the bus, but clipped the left rear with the right front of the Jeep, FHP reports state.

There were 24 students on the bus. None were injured.

Bellingham was taken to Leesburg Regional Hospital with minor injuries. He later was cited for failure to stop for a school bus.

COMMUNITY

Petition drive for transportation

A petition drive is being held to campaign for improved transportation for residents of communities west of Interstate 75 on Highway 27, such as Ocala Palms, Palm Village and Oaktree Village Park, and west of I-75 along the area best known as Airport Road.

Residents can sign a petition from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Chevron gas station at 5985 W. State Road 40 and also from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Nikins Family Store at 4043 NW Blitchton Road, Ocala.

For more information, call Mike McGriff at 304-2530.

Hikes planned in early December

Members of the Florida Trail Association will conduct a hike through the western corridor of the Florida Trail during December. All hikes meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Santos Trailhead. The treks include:

The Friends of the Ocala Library will host Steve Rajtar, author of 25 books of historical photographs of Florida towns and attractions, at 2 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

Some titles by Fajtar include “Remembering the University of Florida,” “A Guide to Historic St. Augustine” and “Historic Photographs of Florida Ghost Towns.”

For more information, visit friendsoftheocalalibrary.org.

Salvation Army food drive

The Salvation Army will hold a drive-thru drop-off food drive from 7 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 3 on the Ocala downtown square.

The agency needs canned and dried food items, and turkeys, to fill Christmas hampers and community food cupboards.

For more information, call 629-2004.

Holiday program to help seniors

The local Home Instead Senior Care office has partnered with Rasmussen College, churches, community groups and individuals to collect and distribute gifts through the Be a Santa to a Senior program.

The program runs through Dec. 14.

A Christmas tree at Rasmussen College, at 4755 SW 46th Court, Ocala, features ornaments with the names of seniors and their gift requests. Shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped.

The Home Instead Senior Care office will enlist staff and volunteers to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts.

For more information, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com or call 622-6447.

TODAY

LIGHT UP THE LAKES: Light up the Lakes, with tree lighting, entertainment and more, will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Tuscawilla Park at 300-899 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala. (629-8444)